Why Christmas Tree Growers Use Bird Sticks During the Growing Season

When you picture a Christmas tree farm, you might imagine neat rows of young trees growing steadily through spring and summer, ready to become the centrepiece of homes in December. But long before a tree is cut, netted and taken home, it needs years of careful attention. One of the small but important tools used during the growing season is something many people may never have heard of: the bird stick.

Bird sticks may look simple, but they play a valuable role in protecting young Christmas trees while they are growing. They are usually brightly coloured plastic or wooden pegs attached near the top of the tree. Their purpose is to help protect the most important part of the tree’s new growth: the leader.

The leader is the upright shoot at the very top of the Christmas tree. This is the part that helps the tree grow taller and maintain its classic straight, conical shape. When the leader grows well, the tree develops evenly, creating the full and symmetrical appearance that people look for when choosing a Christmas tree. However, during the growing season, this top shoot is still soft, tender and fragile.

This is where birds can become a problem.

Birds naturally like to perch on the highest point available. On a young Christmas tree, the highest point is often the new leader shoot. While a bird landing on a tree may seem harmless, the weight of even a small bird can be enough to bend, snap or damage the delicate new growth. If the leader breaks, the tree can lose its straight growing point. This may stunt its height, affect the overall shape and lead to a tree that is no longer suitable for sale as a premium Christmas tree.

A broken leader can also cause the tree to develop multiple competing shoots at the top. Instead of one strong, central point, the tree may start to grow unevenly. Growers can sometimes correct this with skilled pruning and training, but it takes time and care. In some cases, the damage can affect the tree permanently. For a crop that takes several years to grow, preventing this kind of damage is far better than trying to fix it afterwards.

Bird sticks provide a simple and effective solution.

By placing a stick just below or near the top whorl of branches, growers create an alternative high point for birds to land on. Because birds are naturally drawn to the highest available perch, they are encouraged to sit on the stick rather than the fragile leader. This helps protect the new shoot from being snapped or bent out of shape.

Some bird sticks are also used with additional deterrents. Growers may attach shiny reflective tape, holographic strips or small windmill-style attachments to the top of the stick. These move in the wind and catch the light, creating flashes and movement that can help discourage birds from landing in the tree altogether. The aim is not to harm the birds, but simply to guide them away from the most vulnerable part of the crop.

This kind of protection is especially important during the active growing season, when the tree is putting on new growth. At this stage, the leader is fresh and flexible, making it more likely to be damaged. Once the shoot has hardened later in the season, it becomes stronger, but early protection can make a big difference to how the tree develops.

For Christmas tree growers, small details like bird sticks are part of a much bigger process. Growing a high-quality Christmas tree takes patience, planning and regular hands-on care. Trees need to be shaped, monitored, protected and managed throughout the year. From weed control and pruning to pest monitoring and weather protection, there is far more involved than many people realise.

Bird sticks are a good example of how growers work with nature rather than against it. Birds are a normal and important part of the farm environment. The purpose of using bird sticks is not to remove them from the landscape, but to prevent accidental damage to vulnerable young trees. By giving birds a safer place to perch, or by gently deterring them from the crop, growers can protect the tree while still respecting the wildlife around them.

The end result is a healthier, straighter and better-shaped Christmas tree. Protecting the leader helps the tree continue to grow upwards in a balanced way, giving it the classic shape that families love. It also reduces the need for corrective work later on, helping growers produce strong, attractive and marketable trees.

So, if you ever spot a brightly coloured stick or a shiny moving strip at the top of a Christmas tree during the growing season, you now know why it is there. It may look like a small addition, but it has an important job to do.

A Christmas tree does not become beautifully shaped by chance. It takes years of care, attention and thoughtful growing practices. Bird sticks are just one of the many behind-the-scenes methods growers use to make sure each tree has the best chance of becoming the perfect festive centrepiece.

As part of our contracting services, we also carry out this type of seasonal Christmas tree care for other growers. From fitting bird sticks and applying deterrents to carrying out other important cultivation tasks, we help protect young trees and support healthy, even growth throughout the season.

These small but essential jobs can make a big difference to the final quality of the crop. By giving trees the right care at the right time, we help growers produce straighter, fuller and more marketable Christmas trees year after year.